MADISON, IN (December 2009) Many years ago, I was called
to serve three rural churches in the southern part of Virginia. Two
of them were content to follow the practices of the Episcopal Church.
The third was rather feisty and, while it proudly claimed its membership
in our denomination, it was usually at odds with its customs  at
least as I carried them out.
Every year about this time, (as they were publicly discussing why I
didnt deserve a raise for the next year) they would point out
that it was after Thanksgiving but we were not singing Christmas Carols
like were supposed to and we had not yet decorated
for Christmas. My explanation  that it was not Christmas
yet, it was Advent  was always met with a roll of the eyes and
exasperated sighs. And the designated mutterer would traditionally opine,
Well, at least Bethel Church down the street gets it right!
So why do we  and a few other brave denominations  stubbornly
hold out for a Christmas season that begins with a Midnight Mass Christmas
Eve and continue until the Feast of the Epiphany on Jan. 6 while the
rest of the world has its trees out on the street and the After-Christmas
sales cranking up by Dec. 26?
It actually has a long history  one far older than counting down
the shopping days, or reindeer on rooftops.
There was no celebration of Christmas until the Fourth Century. It may
come as a surprise to some that we dont actually know the date
of Jesus birth. Clement of Alexandria, (early 2nd Century) suggested
observing it on May 20! By the mid-300s, the birth of the one who brings
New Life was being celebrated in the place of festivals to the birth
of a new solar year.
Eventually, Dec. 25 became the day. The three large festivals at the
time were Easter, Pentecost and Epiphany. Epiphany was first associated
with the baptism of Jesus, but in the West, it was eventually connected
to the visit of the Magi. This encouraged the giving of gifts 
but on Jan. 6  not Dec. 25. It would take the customs of many
nations, the influence of Saints Nicolas and Lucia and the works of
Charles Dickens, Clement Moore and Thomas Nast to transform Christmas
into the mighty festival it has become.
Over the centuries, the Church developed a calendar that reflected the
whole story of redemption. It starts with Advent, a time of waiting
and anticipation, both the Old Testaments long wait for a Savior
and the Churchs belief that our King shall come again. Advent
begins on the Sunday closest to Saint Andrews Day (Nov. 30) and
ends with the Christmas Eve celebration. So we sing, Come thou
long expected Jesus and O come, O come, Emmanuel in
Advent, but we hold off on O come, all ye faithful for a
few more weeks.
On Christmas Eve, we pull out all the stops! The purple of Advent is
replaced by the white of Christmas, bedecked with red and gold. The
Midnight Mass is planned so that Holy Communion takes place
as close to midnight as we can make it. Candles light the darkness and
the songs of Christmas fill the air! In spite of my old Virginia church,
it is an event worth waiting for! The Churchs version of the Christmas
season lasts 12 days. (Just like the song!) It ends with the Feast of
the Epiphany on Jan. 6.
Years ago, the gifts were given on Old Christmas, Jan. 6.
Here, the marketing world has missed an opportunity. If only they had
known, they could have added 12 more shopping days!
The Liturgical Calendar continues with Jesus ministry, anticipation
of his sacrifice, the Passion, the Resurrection, Ascension, gift of
the Holy Spirit and the ministry of the Church, bringing us full circle
to the next years Advent. Then, once again, someone will wonder
why we arent into Christmas carols as soon as the leftover Thanksgiving
turkey is in the fridge. And we just smile. Christmas is special; its
worth the wait!